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Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

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Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#101

Post by frb »

trin_ wrote: post #79
frb wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With Germany being notorious for its copycats, it's funny to see this in reverse. Who would have thought that an idea that exists in Germany for almost 10 years would still be great for a startup in the US/Canada.

Funny that you would say that. There are a lot of us start ups (even yc ones!) that copy companyies/ideas that are proven and established here in Germany. The package stuff s just one example. All the ride sharing start ups that were hyped some time ago basically copy "mitfahrgelegenheit.de" ( now the company s known as carpooling) wh have been dong this for nearly ten years now. Public bike sharing is another exampl…

I agree that Germany is not all about copycats. Thanks to the Samwers and others this perception was created. If you visit places like Silicon Valley and say you're from Germany you can be sure to find someone who will "make a joke" about Germany and startup copycats.

What irritates me is that nobody seems to point out these reverse cases, where others copy German innovation/ideas.

Also I'm wondering why these positive German examples didn't really scale internationally? Why didn't DHL roll out Packstation in the US? (Big company policies and lack of innovation?) Why has Mitfahrgelegenheit/Carpooling needed almost 8 years to launch in Europe? Why hasn't it launched in the US?

Just really wondering about the different perception and mindsets of US and German startups...

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#102

Post by Simucal »

IanDrake wrote: post #5

>Eventually the company plans to charge $3 or $4 per package. Wow, not sure that was ever going to be feasible. Won't be an issue now that Google bought them. Good for them!

I would pay that in a heartbeat. Living in an apartment is a nightmare for receiving packages. I hate getting the missed package slip and then having to call and arrange for me to pick up the package at their facility 20 minutes away. I've had to wait 2 hours at the sorting facility for them to find my package before.

So to me, $3 seems like a steal when faced with all that.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#105

Post by RockyMcNuts »

frb wrote: post #101
trin_ wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny that you would say that. There are a lot of us start ups (even yc ones!) that copy companyies/ideas that are proven and established here in Germany. The package stuff s just one example. All the ride sharing start ups that were hyped some time ago basically copy "mitfahrgelegenheit.de" ( now the company s known as carpooling) wh have been dong this for nearly ten years now. Public bike sharing is another exampl…

I agree that Germany is not all about copycats. Thanks to the Samwers and others this perception was created. If you visit places like Silicon Valley and say you're from Germany you can be sure to find someone who will "make a joke" about Germany and startup copycats. What irritates me is that nobody seems to point out these reverse cases, where others copy German innovation/ideas. Also I'm wondering why these positi…

Germans are pretty conservative. There was a successful German startup that I looked at, that bragged about how cash flow positive they were. I said FFS, why? In the US in a high growth startup land grab type business, you would put all the cash back into the business to grow it as fast as possible, including internationally, instead of hoarding it and bragging about how solid and conservative you are.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#106

Post by graeme »

mst wrote: post #80
tptacek wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm just feeling goofy. I didn't mean anything by it.

I laughed.

So did I. I took it as the form of humour where someone pretends to take personal offence and has a ludicrous reaction.

I didn't think he felt seriously offensed by the comment pointing out that the idea wasn't new.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#107

Post by consciousness »

alexsb92 wrote: post #78
jhartmann wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As tongue in check as this post seems to me I actually think this is one possible way that things could go. I see massive disruption in the next 10 years in regards to the amounts of jobs that could easily become irrelevant once this sort of tech matures. It will be a very interesting space to watch. A Google + Uber partnership could be very kewl as well. We could get our goods, our transportation, internet and knowl…

But at that point, would Google continue to be an advertising company? It would be like one of those megacorps that you see in movies, but hopefully not evil.

> .. Google .. but hopefully not evil.

Too late, the hive mind which is $GOOG has already shown that it will do as it pleases; "hopefully" good [when convenient], otherwise whatever is profitable even if it is evil.

Can't say I blame the $GOOG; this is an inherent problem with huge organizations -- the meta consciousness which emerges vastly undermines any altruistic desires of individuals.

See also: $MS, $AAPL, $USGOV, et al.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#108

Post by tomkit »

Who is liable for the security of the package at these stations? In a normal exchange, it is the merchant up until delivery to a residence/office (or signature). In this case, is the station operator liable for stolen/lost goods? For the German one it looks like it's operated by the delivery company (DHL), but in the case of third party operators, e.g. Buffer Box, I'm assuming Buffer Box is liable?

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#109

Post by dannyr »

Simucal wrote: post #102
IanDrake wrote: post #5

>Eventually the company plans to charge $3 or $4 per package. Wow, not sure that was ever going to be feasible. Won't be an issue now that Google bought them. Good for them!

I would pay that in a heartbeat. Living in an apartment is a nightmare for receiving packages. I hate getting the missed package slip and then having to call and arrange for me to pick up the package at their facility 20 minutes away. I've had to wait 2 hours at the sorting facility for them to find my package before. So to me, $3 seems like a steal when faced with all that.

When I was working in SF, people take off half a day to receive a package. Let's say an engineer's hourly value is $100, even a $10 fee is nothing.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#110

Post by wglb »

niels wrote: post #17
tptacek wrote: post #10

One of the best possible outcomes: very cool new business idea, continues operating, backed by Google, with founders compensated for the risk they took launching it. Awesome news. Congratulations!

It's not a new idea. We've had them running in my country (Denmark) for the last five years at least. They are everywhere.

Branded as BufferBox, or from a different company?
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